Ukraine president orders full military mobilisation as Russian forces capture Chernobyl

Ukrainian president says conscripts and reservists will be called up as Russian forces attack on numerous fronts

China says it ‘understands Russia’s legitimate security concerns’ and calls for dialogue to resolve the situation

Reading Time:11 minutes

99+

A damaged Ukrainian military facility is seen in the aftermath of Russian shelling outside Mariupol, Ukraine, on Thursday. Photo: AP

Finbarr Berminghamin BrusselsandSCMP Reporters

Published: 8:36pm, 24 Feb 2022Updated: 1:32pm, 9 Mar 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a full military mobilisation as he lamented his country had been left on its own to fight off an invasion by Russian forces.

“We have been left alone to defend our state,” Zelensky said in a video address early Friday Hong Kong time.

“Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of Nato membership? Everyone is afraid,” he added.

At least 137 soldiers and civilians were killed on the first day of a “full-scale war” in Ukraine, according to Zelensky, who called them “heroes”. Conscripts and reservists in all regions will be called up in the full military mobilisation, he said.

There were more than 392 bombings by Russian forces on Thursday, Ukrainian officials said.

Thousands of Ukrainians fled their homes, crossing into neighbouring countries, including Romania, Moldova, Poland and Hungary, while the Chinese embassy in Kyiv announced that it was organising evacuation flights from the country.

Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russian forces had seized the closed Chernobyl nuclear power plant near the abandoned city of Pripyat, which Zelensky called “a declaration of war” against Europe.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x